South & West Wales - De a Gorllewin Cymru

Staff celebrate 635 years of service.

Having collectively worked for First Cymru for more than 635 years, 19 men and one woman from Swansea were recently rewarded for their long service with the company. In a special ceremony held at the Swansea Marriott hotel, they each received a certificate celebrating their achievements, whilst those with 25 or 35 years service also received shopping vouchers from the company worth £250 and £350 respectively.

Amongst those being rewarded, and celebrating 40 or more year's service, were:
· Peter Davies (56), who works as an Engineering Manager for First Cymru. Having started as an apprentice in the central works, Peter worked as a fitter, a coaching manager before being appointed as First Cymru's engineering manager.
· Kenneth Beckers (61) from Swansea, who has worked for First Cymru since 1966 as a bus driver and coach controller.
· Brian Chambers (61) from Swansea, who has worked for First Cymru since 1967 as a controller.
· Alan Thomson (59) from Swansea, who has worked for First Cymru since 1966 as a member of the engineering team.
· Richard Yallop (61) from Swansea, who has worked for First Cymru since 1967 as a driver on both local buses and coaches.

Celebrating 35 years were:
· Tony Wade (53) who having started life as a bus conductor in 1974, moved on to be a driver, then inspector in 1978 and team controller before taking up his present position as depot controller in 1999.
· Ray Thomas (54) who currently works as the Fleet Manager for First Cymrus coaching division. Ray started life as a conductor before becoming a bus and coach driver.

Celebrating 30 years were:
· Martyn Williams (54), who joined the company in 1978 as an Engineering Storeman before training as a bus driver and later being promoted to his current role in customer services supervisor. Martyn is also the Employee Director for First Cymru, and for FirstGroup Plc.
· Bob Temple (49), who began his career on the buses in 1978 when he joined the company as a conductor. Bob currently works on the 100 Shuttle service between Swansea and Cardiff, but will shortly take up a new role as a pilot on the new ftr service.
· Tony Smith (59), who started life as a conductor in 1978 before becoming a driver in 1979.
· David Franks (47), who originally joined the company in 1978 having followed his fathers footsteps to become an apprentice bus body builder.
· Stephen Bryant (59), who works as an engineering chargehand in the Swansea depot.
· Brian Jones (56), who works for First Cymrus coaching division as a driver.
· Stuart Kangley (57), who works for First Cymrus coaching division as a driver.
· Ian Smale (53), who works as an assistant engineering manager in the Swansea depot.

Celebrating 25 years were:
· Jon Westwood (46), who is both a driver and the health and safety representative for the Swansea depot.
· Sue Thomas (42), who works within First Cymrus head office as its Insurance Manager.
· Colin Rewston (62) from Swansea, who works as a Route Manager in Pontardawe having previously been a driver.
· Allan Thomas (48) from Swansea, who works as a driver in Llanelli
· Andrew Watkins (47) from Swansea, who started as a driver in Pontardawe before moving on to the role of route manger at Port Talbot.

Talking about the awards, Tony McNiff, Managing Director for First Cymru says: "The bus industry has changed tremendously over the past 40 years, not least with deregulation in 1986. These changes are particularly evident in Swansea though where in same year that we celebrate these long service awards we will also introduce the new ftr service. This is a dramatic step forward, and it's particularly good to note that one of our longest serving members of staff, Bob Temple, will be working as a ftr pilot when the new vehicles are unveiled in the summer, underlining how new and old can be brought together for the benefit of local people.

"It's great to be able to celebrate long service; in today's uncertain world, it's important to recognise that there is still such a thing as a job for life " as proven by all those who have recently received awards " and it is through their unending commitment and dedication to their roles that First Cymru is able to deliver first class services for the people of Swansea."

For more information about First Cymru, log onto: www.firstgroup.com/ukbus.

In addition to those from Swansea, 13 other members of staff from South and West Wales were also rewarded for their long service with First Cymru.